기본에 충실하기(BACK TO THE BASICS)

💙 기본에 충실하기

 ✝  에스겔 45:9 - 45:20 

“너희는 포악과 겁탈을 제거하여 버리고 정의와 공의를 행하여” [에스겔 45:9]

결심은 깨어지기 마련인 것 같습니다. 어떤 사람들은 이 같은 현실을 장난삼아 새해맞이 결심을 ‘손쉽게 달성할 수 있는’ 것들로 정하기도 합니다. 소셜미디어에 올라온 몇 가지를 예로 들어보겠습니다. 

신호대기 중, 다른 운전자에게 손 흔들기.

마라톤 시합에 등록하기. 그리고는 뛰지 않기. 

미루는 것을 중단하기. 내일부터. 

시리(스마트폰 도움 앱)의 도움 없이 길 잃어버리기. 

자기 운동하는 모습을 인터넷에 올리는 사람들과 친구관계 끊기. 

그러나 새로운 시작이라는 생각이 매우 심각한 때도 있습니다. 유배당한 유다 백성들에게는 새로운 시작은 그야말로 절실했습니다. 70년의 포로생활 중 20년이 갓 지났을 때 하나님은 에스겔 선지자를 통해 “내가... 야곱의 사로잡힌 자를 돌아오게 하리라”(에스겔 39:25)고 약속하시며 그들을 격려해 주셨습니다.

하지만 이 민족은 먼저 기본, 곧 800년 전에 하나님께서 모세에게 주셨던 명령으로 돌아가야 했습니다. 이 명령에는 새해맞이 축제를 지키는 것도 포함되어 있었습니다. 고대 유대 백성들은 이른 봄에 이 축제를 열었습니다 (45:18). 
그들 축제의 중요한 목적은 하나님의 성품과 그분이 바라시는 바를 다시 기억하는 것이었습니다. 하나님은 유대인 지도자들에게 “포악과 겁탈을 제거하여 버리고 정의와 공의를 행하고”(9절) 정직하게 살기를 요구하셨습니다 (10절).

이 교훈은 우리에게도 마찬가지로 적용됩니다. 우리의 믿음은 행동으로 옮겨져야 하며, 그렇지 않으면 아무 가치도 없습니다(야고보서 2:17). 이 새해에 하나님께서 우리에게 필요한 것을 공급해 주실 때 우리의 믿음 생활도 다음과 같은 기본으로 돌아갈 수 있기를 바랍니다. “주 너의 하나님을 사랑하라”, 그리고 “네 이웃을 네 자신 같이 사랑하라”(마태복음 22:37-39).

어떤 방식으로 기본에 충실해야 한다고 생각하십니까? 새해를 맞아  어떻게 이를 실행에 옮기시겠습니까?

<하나님 아버지, 성령께서 나보다 다른 사람들을 더 돌아봐야 할 곳들을 보여 주시기 원합니다. 저의 온 마음을 다해 하나님을 사랑하도록 도와주소서.>

9. 주 여호와께서 이같이 말씀하셨느니라 이스라엘의 통치자들아 너희에게 만족하니라 너희는 포악과 겁탈을 제거하여 버리고 정의와 공의를 행하여 내 백성에게 속여 빼앗는 것을 그칠지니라 주 여호와의 말씀이니라 10. 너희는 공정한 저울과 공정한 에바와 공정한 밧을 쓸지니 17. 군주의 본분은 번제와 소제와 전제를 명절과 초하루와 안식일과 이스라엘 족속의 모든 정한 명절에 갖추는 것이니 이스라엘 족속을 속죄하기 위하여 이 속죄제와 소제와 번제와 감사 제물을 갖출지니라 18. ○여호와께서 이같이 말씀하셨느니라 첫째 달 초하룻날에 흠 없는 수송아지 한 마리를 가져다가 성소를 정결하게 하되 19. 제사장이 그 속죄제 희생제물의 피를 가져다가 성전 문설주와 제단 아래층 네 모퉁이와 안뜰 문설주에 바를 것이요 20. 그 달 칠일에도 모든 과실범과 모르고 범죄한 자를 위하여 역시 그렇게 하여 성전을 속죄할지니라

💙 BACK TO THE BASICS

 ✝  Ezekiel 45:9 - 45:20 

"Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right."[ EZEKIEL 45:9 ]

Resolutions, it seems, are made to be broken. Some folks poke fun at this reality by proposing New Year’s vows that are— shall we say—attainable. Here are a few from social media: Wave to fellow motorists at stoplights.

Sign up for a marathon. Don’t run it.

Stop procrastinating—tomorrow.

Get lost without any help from Siri.

Unfriend everyone who posts their workout regimen.

The concept of a fresh start can be serious business, however. The exiled people of Judah desperately needed one. Just over two decades into their seventy-year captivity, God brought encouragement to them through the prophet Ezekiel, promising, “I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob” (EZEKIEL 39:25).

But the nation first needed to return to the basics—the instructions God had given to Moses eight hundred years earlier. This included observing a feast at the new year. For the ancient Jewish people, that began in early spring (45:18). A major purpose of their festivals was to remind them of God’s character and His expectations. He told their leaders, “Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right” (V. 9), and he insisted on honesty (V. 10).

The lesson applies to us too. Our faith must be put into practice or it’s worthless (JAMES 2:17).

In this new year, as God provides what we need, may we live out our faith by returning to the basics: “Love the Lord your God,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (MATTHEW 22:37–39).  TIM GUSTAFSON

In what ways do you sense you need to get back to the basics?How will you put this into practice in the new year?

<Father, may Your Spirit show me the places where I need to put others before myself. Help me love You with all my heart.>

9. "`This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have gone far enough, O princes of Israel! Give up your violence and       oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign LORD. 10. You are to use accurate scales, an accurate ephah and an accurate bath. 17. It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings at the festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths -  at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel. 18. "`This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In the first month on the first day you are to take a young bull without         defect and purify the sanctuary. 19. The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four      corners of the upper ledge of the altar and on the gateposts of the inner court. 20. You are to do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance;   so you are to make atonement for the temple.